Military News

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

4/14/2014 - POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland -- After
two weeks of Polish armed forces and U.S. personnel working
shoulder-to-shoulder and building partner capacity as NATO allies,
training has come to close April 12 here at the U.S. Air Force Aviation
Detachment.

"This training deployment is critical to our crews maintaining their
readiness," Brig. Gen. Patrick X. Mordente, 86th Airlift Wing commander
said on his first visit to his Polish sister wing here, referencing the
valuable opportunity for U.S. aircrew to practice various air drops in
Poland. "It is critical that we work with the Polish to be able to
accomplish our mission as NATO allies."

The first week, Polish and U.S. service members trained and jumped
together out of three U.S. C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Polish land
forces and special operations forces were able to jump from U.S.
aircraft, under the supervision of a joint team of U.S. jumpmasters.

Polish paratroopers trained with U.S. Air Force paratroopers, along with
a small contingent of U.S. Army paratroopers and a U.S. Navy jumpmaster
to build understanding of each other's processes for real-world
scenarios, according to U.S. Army Specialist Estevan Gonzales, 5th
Quartermaster Theater Aerial Deliver Company.

The second week, both the U.S. and Polish C-130s flew to evade and
escape Polish surface-to-air missiles systems in a first-ever complex
training environment that challenged both NATO allies.

"The Polish Air Force has incorporated a lot of new capabilities this
time around," said Maj. Raymond Bevivino, 37th Airlift Squadron deployed
forces commander. "It's nice to see that every time we deploy here to
work with our Polish counterparts, we both get better and grow from
training together."

After training with the U.S. this rotation, Polish pilots successfully
accomplished tactical landings for the first time on unimproved
surfaces, such as a grass strip, which are used during combat and
humanitarian operations when paved runways are not available. U.S.
service members also trained their counterparts how to set-up, operate
and control the landing zone.

"We will continue to exercise these [tactical landings] after the
rotation," said Polish Lt Col. Kyrsztof Szymaniec, 3rd Transport Wing's
C-130 squadron commander. "This aviation rotation is great because we
conduct our training under the supervision of the U.S. and learn better
techniques and tactics."

The Av-Det in Poland has an enduring U.S. presence, with ten U.S. Air
Force members stationed at Lask Air Base, Poland. The ten Airmen plan
and coordinate at least four aviation rotations a year, according to
Maj. Matthew Spears, Av-Det commander.

"We have established continuity and a working relationship with our
Polish counterparts that simplifies the deployment of U.S. aircraft to
Poland, and increases the effectiveness of the bilateral training,"
Spears said. "We could not accomplish the aircraft rotations without the
tremendous support of the Polish armed forces."

U.S. and Polish armed forces will continue to strengthen bilateral
defense ties together in various exercises, including an upcoming
aviation rotation in June, in which fighter aircraft from multiple
nations will participate in three different exercises simultaneously for
the first time.

4/14/2014 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The
436th Airlift Wing worked alongside the 512th Airlift Wing and three
other wings to conduct a seven-day long deployment exercise known as the
East Coast Combat Operations Exercise.

The ECCOEX consisted of two major components; the simulated deployment
of roughly 400-500 Airmen and tactical flying exercises consisting of
semi-prepared runway operations while integrating with the 621st
Contingency Response Wing from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

David Johnson, 436th AW deputy director of inspections, said the
exercise ensures the units on base, including the reserves, are readily
available to deploy a large number of Airmen while supporting the
day-to-day operations of Dover Air Force Base.

"We typically don't deploy in a large mass like this," said Johnson.
"However, this is a capability we need to maintain and be able to
execute when called upon."

The exercise involved a majority of the units on base and gave Airmen a
chance to gauge their mission readiness by working longer days with
heavier workloads, processing through deployment lines and going through
pre-deployment training such as Self-Aid and Buddy Care and Chemical
Biological Radiological and Nuclear defense training.

One way Airmen were able to assess their own deployment readiness was to
process through the personnel deployment function line. The purpose of
processing through the PDF line is to ensure Airmen are financially,
medically and legally able to deploy.

1st Lt. Christopher Trejo, 436th Force Support Squadron civilian
personnel section chief, and 2nd Lt. Adara Scholl, 436th Mission Support
Group executive officer, were the officers in charge of the PDF line
and Trejo said the 512th AW played a major role in operations.

"Without the contributions from our sister squadron in the reserve wing,
we would not have had a successful PDF line," said Trejo. "This
strengthened the relationship between the 436th FSS and our reserve
counterparts in the 512th AW."

The ECCOEX was logistically demanding of the 436th and 512th Maintenance
Groups. The groups were responsible for generating and processing cargo
along with inspecting, servicing and launching aircraft to meet the
operational requirements of the exercise.

Lt. Col. Richard Fletcher, 436th MXG deputy commander, said the exercise
was a fantastic opportunity to surge the capabilities of the MXG and
demonstrate what they can do on a day-to-day basis in a high stress
environment.

"There was a tremendous amount of cooperation between the Operations
Group, MXG and MSG to generate cargo and aircraft to meet the mission
requirements," said Fletcher. "The Airmen from the 436th and the 512th
were invaluable to the success of this unique training opportunity."

Through coordination with multiple wings and a mission planning cell,
the 436th AW and the 512th AW focused flight training on airborne
command and control. The focus of this was to use secure communications
that enable the dynamic tasking of airborne aircraft to a variety of
airfields. The missions incorporated air-refueling, tactical approaches
and departures, semi-prepared runway operations and ground operations
with the 621st CRW throughout the entire exercise.

This was the first major exercise at Dover AFB under the new wing
inspection process and Johnson said the new system enabled for more
flexible planning of the scenarios and training.

"This exercise was a first for Dover AFB," said Johnson. "We anticipate
this prototype will be utilized and further developed in the upcoming
years."

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 – The United States is concerned
about reports of increased violence in Ukraine, and continues to call on Russia
to de-escalate the situation, Pentagon officials said today.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
echoed the U.S. concern during a media availability in Luxembourg today.

There has been no substantial change in the number or
composition of the Russian forces on Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders,
Army Col. Steve Warren, a Defense Department spokesman, told reporters at the
Pentagon.

“The Russians continue to have tens of thousands of troops
arrayed along the Ukrainian border,” he said, “and again I would like to
reiterate that we have repeatedly called on the Russians to withdraw those troops
from the border and help de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.”

Ukrainian troops are moving to flush pro-Russian militias
from cities in the eastern part of the country. In a call with President Barack
Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is not interfering in Ukraine,
and that U.S. contentions that Russia is interfering are based on erroneous
information.

“The American government is under no illusions that the
Russian government continues to array its troops along the Ukrainian border,”
Warren said. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the evidence is compelling
that Russia is supporting these efforts to destabilize Ukraine.

The United States continues to support Ukraine, Warren said,
and U.S. officials have conducted defense consultations with Ukraine recently.
The consultations did not address current operations, he added. The senior
Defense Department representative at the talks was Evelyn Farkas, the deputy
assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia.

Rasmussen said NATO is concerned about the continued
violence by small groups of separatists, and Russia’s continued military
pressure on Ukraine’s borders. “I call on Russia to de-escalate the crisis, to
pull back its troops from Ukraine’s borders, to stop de-stabilizing the
situation in Ukraine, and make clear that it doesn’t support the violent
actions of pro-Russian separatists,” the secretary general said.

“Russia should stop being part of the problem, and start
being part of the solution,” he added.

The NATO chief said the alliance is considering further
steps to strengthen collective defense. This could include appropriate
deployments, he said.

4/15/2014 - KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- The
exploits of a local "superhero" continued when Miles Scott, call sign
"Batkid," reported for duty at the 173rd Fighter Wing here April 10 as
part of the Pilot for a Day program.

He donned the uniform of an F-15 pilot to include helmet, mask, and at
one point even night vision goggles in preparation for the events of the
day.

Instructor pilot Maj. Richard Giampietri escorted he and his family to
watch take-offs up-close and personal, sat Batkid in the cockpit of a
jet, and introduced him to crew chief Tech. Sgt. Cliff Rutledge and
other maintenance personnel.

Miles, a Tulelake native, earned his call sign Nov. 15, 2013, on an
historic day for the City of San Francisco and a young boy from the
Klamath Basin. That was the day a new superhero emerged ... Batkid, the
sidekick to the older Batman.

The day was a special one for him and his parents Nick and Natalie in
large part because Miles was there on behalf of the Make-A-Wish
Foundation. He became Batkid that day, but for his parents the special
part was simply having Miles there at all after battling leukemia for
several years.

At eighteen months he was diagnosed with the blood cancer, and in June
2013 he received his last chemo treatment; now doctors have pronounced
him in remission.

Giampetri commissioned Batkid to serve a mission fit for a superhero;
namely, to thwart a plan by super-villains The Riddler and Joker, who
planned to use stolen Russian MiGs to wreak havoc on the world at large.

After his training across places like the parachute shop and Aircrew
Flight Equipment, Miles was ready to face the villains and stepped into
the 173rd Fighter Wing F-15 Simulator for his mission. He emerged
victorious and with a wide smile

The 114th Fighter Squadron at Kingsley Field hosts the Fighter Pilot for
a Day program, which brings children to the base to experience
"a-day-in-the-life" of a Kingsley pilot. The Squadron began a new
outreach in late 2009.

4/15/2014 - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs -- 'Traumatic
brain injury' has become a buzz word in the military with the
Department of Defense deeming it "the signature injury of the war on
terror."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a traumatic
brain injury occurs when there is a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a
penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain.
Symptoms include headaches, sensitivity to noise or light, nausea,
vision problems and dizziness, just to name a few.

Experts in the medical field agree that diagnosing and treating TBI can
be a difficult endeavor requiring devoted and highly skilled
professionals. Enter the TBI Clinic at the JBER hospital.

"The mission of the TBI Clinic is delivering comprehensive,
evidence-based treatments to the mind, while providing the highest
standard of care to the person," said Tech. Sgt. Seth Russell, 673d
Medical Operations Squadron TBI Clinic non-comissioned officer in
charge.

A dedicated staff of 13, which includes neuropsychologists, speech
language pathology, occupational therapy and nurse case managers, as
well as an entire hospital which stands ready to help treat patients
within their respective disciplines, composes JBER's capability to
diagnose and treat TBI cases.

"TBI cases we see come primarily in the form of a concussion or some
other traumatic blow to the head," said Air Force Maj. Joel Cartier,
673d MDOS licensed clinical social worker and TBI clinic director. "It's
like a bruise on the brain. There's swelling and centralization of
blood."

TBI symptoms are classified by the medical community in three
categories: physical, cognitive and emotional. Physical symptoms include
headaches, dizziness and sensitivity to light. Cognitive symptoms
include concentration problems, attention problems and difficulty
finding words. Emotional symptoms include irritability, anxiety and
depression.

The physical symptoms of TBIs eventually go away and the rest can be
treated through a variety of medications and therapy, Cartier said.

"The physical signs of a TBI go away. The symptoms can often times
linger. That is the problematic issue we deal with a lot," Cartier said.
"If you were to do an MRI on somebody who's had a concussion two to
three months after the fact, you're not going to see anything, but the
psychological problems can persist."

Cognitive problems present their own unique challenges to Cartier's team.

"To address cognitive problems patients may have, we have to retrain the
brain," Cartier said. "We have speech and language pathology and
occupational therapy to help with those sorts of things."

Cartier said it can be difficult for patients to tackle the associated stress that can come with a TBI.

"If I have a TBI, my brain isn't working as well as it used to and that,
in and of itself, is stressful," Cartier said. "In the military, we
generally have somewhat stressful jobs - lots of demands and
expectations placed upon us. So, if my job was at all stressful in the
first place, now I have the stressor of not being able to function as
well with those same stressors. We oftentimes take that stress home and
it bleeds over into the family which can cause family problems."

Russell and Cartier agreed dealing with TBI is the easy part of their job.

"If it's strictly TBI, that's the easy part," Cartier said. "The problem
is with a TBI is we're generally dealing with so many other things -
chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. PTSD is oftentimes
more difficult to deal with than an a TBI."

According to the National Council on Disability, PTSD and TBI are often
addressed together for two reasons. First, the symptoms may be similar,
so it is difficult to distinguish between the two injuries. Second, many
people with TBI also have PTSD.

Although PTSD is a biological/psychological injury and TBI is a
neurological trauma, the symptoms of the two injuries have some parallel
features. In both injuries, the symptoms may show up months after
someone has returned from war, and in both injuries, the veteran may
'self-medicate.' Overlapping symptoms include sleep disturbances,
irritability, physical restlessness, difficulty concentrating and some
memory disturbances. While there are similarities, there are also
significant differences. For example, with PTSD individuals may have
trouble remembering the traumatic event, but otherwise their memory and
ability to learn is intact. With TBI the individual has preserved older
memories, but may have difficulty retaining new memories learning new
things.

At each initial screening, Cartier's team determines if a patient with a
concussion may potentially have PTSD. Depending on their findings, some
patients are referred for additional treatment.

Russell said TBI is getting much more attention at a federal level
lately. Additionally, the Department of Veteran Affairs expanded
benefits for veterans with TBI and announced new regulations make it
easier for individuals to receive additional disability pay. However,
Cartier does not believe this will result in over-diagnosis of TBI
cases.

"TBI isn't easy to fake," Cartier said. "We have a lot of different
assessments we do to tease out whether or not you're having cognitive
deficiencies."

Russell believes the recent influx of TBI diagnoses is because "medical
professionals have gotten smarter in the way we've assessed it and
calling it what it is."

Cartier emphasized the importance of people seeking out help if they even think they might have experienced a TBI.

"It's critical for people to come get the help they need," Cartier said.
"In any TBI, the expectation is that you can get better. We can help
you get back on track. You might not be able to make it back to who you
were before, but the progress we make will be of value."

Russell echoed his boss's statement.

"Life is too short not to live it well," Russell said. "Get the help you need before it gets the best of you."

For more information, people can contact the TBI clinic at 580-0014.
People are asked to first see their primary care provider for a referral
before trying to schedule an appointment.

4/15/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The
Soldiers of Company L, 157th Regiment, 45th Division arrived at the
Nazi concentration camp gates and saw they were locked. They scaled the
walls and took out the guards. When they had liberated the camp, what
the Soldiers saw brought many of them to tears of sorrow and anger. How
could a human do this do another human?

April 29, 1945, at 7:30 a.m., marks the 69th anniversary of the
liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany. Less than three months
after Dachau was liberated, a frontline medic from the 71st Infantry
Division arrived to assess the cleanup effort. After 92 days of combat,
his unit had traveled more than 1,060 miles and had taken 108,000
Prisoners Of War. What this medic saw would change his life forever. His
name was Alvin Fleetwood. Fleetwood, a World War II veteran, was
recently the keynote speaker for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's
Holocaust National Days of Remembrance event at the Frontier Theater on
JBER-Richardson, April 10.

"I came in after the liberation; everything was still visible as to what
had occurred," Fleetwood said. "What we experienced was firsthand, and
the evidence was everywhere."

Fleetwood said there were 30,000 people who were critically ill and dying and they couldn't handle them all at one time.

"In just a matter of a couple of hours, there was medical help there,
food had been brought in, clean clothing had been brought in, lots of
blankets had been brought in and that was almost instantaneous,"
Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood said he understands why some of his fellow veterans resist talking about the war.

"When we were discharged ... we were given no debriefing and no
introduction back into civilian life," Fleetwood said. "What do you do
when you are up against a thing like that? You put it in the back of
your mind and never think about it, forcefully, and you forget about it,
hopefully."

But Fleetwood continues to speak to keep it fresh in people's minds.

"I am afraid that the story of the Holocaust is being forgotten, or the
story of the Holocaust is not reaching our young people or they are not
being made aware of the Holocaust," Fleetwood said. "It's a story,
needing to be told so it won't be repeated," Fleetwood said. "I think
it's a story that needs to be told more from the heart than by an
author."

"I have to believe that the genocide that happened, as inhuman as it
was, can't be repeated in modern society," Fleetwood said. "I don't
understand, and I never will, the terrible torture and killing that
occurred to other human beings."

Fleetwood said he hopes audiences will take away at least one thing after he finishes speaking.

"If we can learn anything from our past, we should take advantage of
it," Fleetwood said. "Some will go away with a deep feeling of 'we can't
let this happen again.' I think [speaking] will give the public in
general, a deeper feeling for the military and their sacrifices."

The United States Army Alaska and JBER Equal Opportunity office
sponsored the Holocaust National Days of Remembrance event. According to
the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's website, the United
States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation's
annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims.
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 28.

4/14/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Four
Airmen from the 15th Medical Group recently had the unique opportunity
to attend the Army's Expert Field Medical Badge course at Schofield
Barracks.

The two-week course, held March 31 through April 11, tested an
attendees' medical aptitude through a series of rigorous mental and
physical tests. Upon completion of the course, students are awarded the
highly sought-after Army Expert Field Medical Badge--and ultimate
bragging rights.

The prestigious award has a passing rate of five to 25 percent, making
it one of the most difficult badges to earn in the U.S. Army and most
definitely the most difficult in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

To successfully complete the course, students must demonstrate their
proficiency at tactical combat casualty care, standard and non-standard
evacuation operations, take a written test, execute U.S. Army Warrior
communications and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and
high-yield explosives tasks, perform day and night land navigation and
complete a 12-mile road march.

Senior Airmen Christopher Bowlds and Justin Stinson, as well as Airmen
1st Class Devon Garvin and Steven Hernandez, were hand-picked to
represent the Air Force among the 241 Soldiers attending the course.

Senior Master Sgt. Keith Scott, 15th Medical Operations Squadron
superintendent, said this was the first time Airmen from the 15th MDG
had been invited to attend the course, and they couldn't have picked a
better set of Airmen.

"It's all about attitude, motivation and representing the Air Force well
in the joint environment," he said. "We wanted to make a good
impression so we vetted the volunteers to send the 'best-of-the-best'
first."

Scott said the Airmen performed so well, the Air Force has already been invited back to attend the next class.

"The interaction and exposure to the joint environment this class offers
is priceless," he said. "Our Airmen desire operational experiences, so
the invitation to participate in this training gives us an opportunity
to give them a taste of that. In training, we tend to simulate a lot but
this training is not like that. It's more realistic. Some of these guys
will never see situations like this again in their career unless it's
the real thing, so for some, this could be what gives them the
experience they need."

For Bowlds, attending the course was not only the most challenging thing he's ever done, it was also one of the most rewarding.

In addition to having to retain the knowledge and demonstrate their
ability to use the skills they were being taught, course participants
were expected to do so under extremely stressful conditions such as
simulated attacks, gun fire or explosions.

"This was not necessarily physically challenging as much as mentally
challenging," he said. "The amount of attention to detail and all the
little things you're expected to do is way beyond I've had to do before.
Most of the tasks are timed and the pressures always on. This was
something I hadn't been exposed to as a junior Airmen, and definitely
one of those experiences I will take and learn from."

Bowlds said the best part of the training for him was the joint peer-to-peer interaction.

"A lot of these medics are assigned to infantry units, so they don't do
the same thing I do every day," he said. "I definitely have a new
respect for my Army counterparts. Those guys are no joke hard-core
medics. It was definitely an honor to learn from them and get their
perspective. I enjoyed getting to pick their brains about things and see
how they operate in a field or combat environment."

Though the course provided an opportunity for the Airmen attendees to
pick up an immense amount of field knowledge, it also sparked a bit of
healthy competition.

"I wanted to take this course just to see how Air Force medics stack up
against Army medics," said Bowlds. "Army medics have the experience ...
they get this type of training often, but that doesn't mean we are any
less of a technician. We're okay getting dirty too and it was good to be
able to show them that we could do that. Just to stand next to them,
training side by side and earning their respect ... was a good feeling
and I think any technician would jump at the chance to do that."

Although only one out of the four Airmen attendees walked away with the EFMB, Scott said they are all victors in his eyes.

"It's an honor just to be selected for this course ... not just for
themselves, but for the chance to represent the Air Force and these guys
went above and beyond," he said. "It's a challenge. This course is a
real challenge and they didn't have to go do it, but they did and they
excelled at it. I'm proud of the way they represented the Air Force."

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 – The new administrator of the
Small Business Administration came to the Pentagon today to meet with service
members enrolled in her agency’s “Boots to Business” program.

Maria Contreras-Sweet, who took office April 7, is the voice
of American small businesses at home and abroad. She spoke to a new class of 17
airmen and three sailors who are transitioning out of the services.

The administrator told the service members enrolled in the
program that she wants to ensure those who defend the country also get a chance
to prosper.

She spoke of her time leading California’s Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency. When her agency was letting contracts, she
said, she always asked how much of the work was going to veteran-owned
companies. “There’s no point in getting people ready for business and then not
giving them the opportunity to do the business,” she said, “particularly with
the government that they fought so hard to defend.”

Contreras-Sweet recalled giving a speech to veterans in
California. She walked in to the auditorium and met vets who had lost limbs,
yet who were still striving to contribute to the nation. “It really affected
me, and this is why you are so important to me,” she said. “You are really on
the front lines.”

The Boots to Business program is a way for service members
to move into business. The SBA works with DOD to ensure service members
approach the program with open eyes.

The SBA helps veteran entrepreneurs with access to capital,
helps with counselling and helps to ensure “you have access to your Uncle Sam,”
she told the class. Nike, FedEx, Proctor & Gamble and Chik-Fil-A, she
noted, all are companies started by veterans.

The administrator said she wants her agency to be a good
wingman to the veterans as they begin their businesses, and she promised to do
all she could to help their businesses get off the ground and grow. “I want the
SBA to have a long-term relationship with you,” she said. “And I want you to
tell me if something works or doesn’t work. I wanted to hear from you directly
about how the SBA can do more and how we can do better.”

Many military skills can translate to civilian jobs,
Contreras-Sweet said, and she wants military personnel to understand “that your
service has given you unique qualifications to lead, and leadership is the holy
grail of entrepreneurship.”

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla., April 15, 2014 – The senior
enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today completed
his command visit here by conducting an all-service, interactive panel of
commissioned and noncommissioned officers ready to answer questions from local
Junior ROTC cadets.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia invited dozens of
high school students to get first-hand, candid information about different
career paths among the service branches as they prepare to make post-graduation
decisions.

“We wanted to enable panelists to engage with these students
to broaden their horizons and show them there are many opportunities in life,
even if they don’t choose the military as an initial career path,” Battaglia
said.

The sergeant major said that should the future total force
enlistees adhere to their commitments, their road to success brings myriad
possibilities.

“You can always educate yourself, and it doesn’t have to be
in an academic school environment,” he told the cadets. “Walk through life with
an open mind and wide aperture about what new things you can learn. When you
have intelligence, people want to be around you.”

Cadets asked the panelists what made them join the military,
and the answers varied from education to wanting to see the world.

“The goal we all have in common is wanting success, and no
matter what color uniform, it can have your name on it. You can succeed,”
Battaglia said.

The sergeant major also acknowledged his jobs have run the
gamut, from cleaning toilets to his tenure as the senior enlisted advisor to
the nation’s top-ranking military officer.

“It was all about discipline for me,” he said. “Learning to
do a job well has served me at all levels, and joining the military was the
perfect stepping stone for that.”

The sergeant major asked each panelist to use one word to
describe their motivation to join the military. Each panelist answered,
respectively: purpose, pride, duty, freedom and integrity.

4/15/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- For
those with a permanent change of station date right around the corner,
worrying about a base housing move-out inspection can add to the stress
of the process. Children, whether human or four-legged variety, may have
done their fair share of damage around the house and repairs may be
needed.

But there is a remedy to help residents become inspection ready: the
U-Fix-It shops on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. From carpet
shampooers to hedge clippers, the shops on JBER feature many tools for
loan to ensure base houses stay in tip-top shape.

"The two main benefits are saving money and time," said Brandy Little,
Aurora Military Housing Tenant Relations manager. "It helps residents
get service faster by doing it themselves, if they're capable."

Service members who are able to complete their own repairs save money by
not having to go off base to buy supplies. They also save time by not
having to wait for a maintenance technician to come to their house on a
service call.

The U-Fix-It shops even loan out the same type of black light the
inspectors use to find stains on the carpet. Any resident moving out who
has small children or pets should take advantage of the loans to make
sure they properly clean their carpet, Little said.

"When a resident moves in, we want them to perform their own black light
inspection just to see if their findings are the same as ours, and if
there are any discrepancies we can fix those," Little said. "We also
offer it at the time of move out in case they're curious if they have an
animal or toddler in potty training so they can see the spots
themselves. Everything shows up under a black light."

Toilet seats, fluorescent lights, furnace filters and other replacement
items are available at a one-for-one exchange rate. If people bring in
their old fluorescent light bulb or broken toilet seat they can get a
new one for free.

"The U-Fix-It clerks are trained to assist residents, to show them
around and to show them how to do things," Little said. "They have
supplies available to perform self-repairs, but if residents are
uncomfortable with that then they should call the maintenance
technicians."

The shops also offer seasonal items such as ice melt, ice chippers,
grass seed fertilizer and landscape timbers. Departing residents should
leave any extra items for the next tenant, as long as the item is still
usable.

Residents can also return unused items to the U-Fix-It stores to be given to someone else.

The JBER-Elmendorf shop is located behind the Aurora Military Housing
office on Arctic Warrior Drive and the JBER-Richardson shop is located
in Building 338.

The JBER-Richardson shop is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday. The JBER-Elmendorf shop is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a
closure from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

4/15/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- When
service members seek medical attention for broken teeth or dental
damage prevention, the first thing that comes to their mind is to see a
dentist.

Once a patient is seen, the dentist will provide the dental lab an impression of the prescription they need to make.

The dental lab works behind the scenes creating fixed and removable prosthodontics and acrylic appliances.

"We are in charge of fabricating prostheses or whatever appliance the
dentist needs," said Air Force Staff Sgt. James Berryman, 673d DS lab
technician, "We make everything from a single crown, to dentures,
retainers, night and sports guards."

Depending on the requirement, most of the requests are done in-house.

"Sometimes it's a quick turn-around where we can turn in the request in a
day," Berryman said, "It can also take longer depending on the
complexity of the case."

Although the dental lab technicians do not see the patients, they
provide an accurate replica of their teeth by the impression they get
from the dentist.

In addition to fixing prosthondontics and appliances, the dental lab
also ensures service members are able to maintain dental readiness so
they are worldwide deployable.

"The dental clinic classifies members according to their oral health,"
the eight-year veteran said. "So if a member is in Class III, they
cannot deploy because they will have a dental emergency that will
require treatment. It is our job to make sure we make whatever appliance
they need so their readiness is where it needs to be."

On average, the dental lab produces an average of 10 to 20 impressions a day.

The lab also supports the Sleep Disorder Center by providing an oral appliance for obstructive sleep apnea patients.

4/14/2014 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Operations
security is the safeguarding of information that, if disseminated to
the general public, could cause a threat or bring harm to
military members or property. This is something that not only military
members should think about, but also family members wherever they are,
to include at home.

Bad OPSEC practices can lead to mission degradation and put lives at
risk, while smart OPSEC habits can help ensure safe mission
continuation.

In order to be able to contribute to OPSEC success all members should be
familiar with the wing and unit critical information list. These lists
are designed to capture information deemed most important to protect. At
a minimum family members here at Incirlik should know the basics and
receive family consolidated CIL cards.

"It's important for people to know information, such as, when and where a
unit is arriving could be information an adversary wants," said Maj.
Ryan Williams, 39th Air Base Wing OPSEC monitor. "We need to protect
critical or sensitive information and prevent anyone who doesn't have a
need to know, from gaining access to it. We also need to understand how
an adversary can gather information."

Here are some methods that can be used to gain access to information:

Surveillance - This can be done electronically or in
person and can include someone listening in on conversations, tapping
into phone lines or intercepting emails.

Elicitation - This is when individuals actively try to
gain information using various methods such as asking questions or
offering favors, money or gifts.

Imagery - This is when individuals take photos of
various things that may include key facilities, flight line, power
plant, gates, aircraft and personnel.

Dumpster Diving - This is when individuals attempt to gather documents from trash, shred bins or unattended work areas.

"When everyone is aware of methods used against us, we can more
efficiently apply countermeasures to protect our critical information,"
said Williams. "Countermeasures can effectively cut off our adversary's
ability to collect against us."

Some countermeasures to bolster OPSEC integrity include:

Don't speak out of your lane: Unless someone is a subject matter expert and has been given approval to speak on a subject, they shouldn't talk about it.

Need to know: "It's exactly what it sounds like," said
Williams. "If you've been entrusted with some information, and the guy
sitting next to you doesn't need to know because he's not going to have a
major impact on the mission, then you don't need to tell it to him."

Know who your OPSEC monitor is: Every unit has an OPSEC
coordinator. Everyone should know who their monitor is and clear
everything through them before divulging potentially protected or
sensitive information.

Talk to your public affairs office before releasing information or talking to the press: "Never
agree to an interview or answer media questions about official matters
before contacting public affairs. This applies both at home station and
in a deployed location," said 1st Lt. David Liapis, 39th Air Base Wing
public affairs officer. "Public Affairs is the liaison between you and
the media to help ensure interviews portray both you and the Air Force
accurately as well as without security or OPSEC risks."

Educate your family members: Talk to them to make sure they know what must be protected.

Report the unusual: If you see anything abnormal, people here at Incirlik AB can make an Eagle Eyes report to 676-EYES (3937).

Social media: It's important for people to know who is
on their social media account and to not "friend" strangers. Don't post
anything that specifically talks about the job or mission.

"Posting something on Facebook is equivalent to releasing it worldwide,"
said Liapis. "Your status update stating your spouse is leaving for a
certain foreign country on a particular date may not seem like a big
deal, but that's critical information that could be used maliciously
when combined with other intelligence."

The U.S. Air Force has supplied a guide on how to correctly and safely
navigate social media as a military member, which can also be used to
educate your loved ones. For a copy, click here.

Know who belongs in your workplace, and who doesn't:
"No one is going to know who shouldn't be in the workplace better than
the people who work there," said Williams. "It doesn't hurt to ask
questions. If you find someone in your workplace you don't recognize,
find out who the stranger is and what they are doing there. If it's
something you're not aware of, contact your chain of command to verify."

Remember that OPSEC is always important. It can mean the difference
between life and death. Not taking it seriously can inadvertently give
out information that helps an enemy.

All in all, it is important to be informed and aware. If unsure, ask;
and never forget that Eagle Eyes reporting makes a difference when
something suspicious happens.